Park Seo-yeon, the younger sister of Jihyo (real name Park Ji-hyo) from the global K-pop group TWICE, is set to make her official debut as a member of HYBE’s newest girl group.
On August 3, ABD, a sub-label under HYBE, announced that its new group, TUIDE, will officially debut on August 24 with their first mini-album titled TUNE & PLAY.
According to released promotional photos, TUIDE is a seven-member group consisting of Seohee (leader), Seoyeon, Elena, Jia, Saki, Seah, and Yi Hani. ABD stated, “The seven members come from diverse cultural backgrounds including South Korea, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Japan, forming TUIDE’s unique team color. Moreover, composed entirely of teenagers born between 2006 and 2011, they plan to bring a fresh kind of joy to global music fans through their distinct personalities and multinational synergy.”
TUIDE will release their debut mini-album TUNE & PLAY on August 24 at 6:00 PM KST. Executive production for the group is headed by Master Professional (MP) Han Sung-soo, the former CEO of Pledis Entertainment.
According to ABD, the album title TUNE & PLAY signifies tuning different musical languages into a single rhythm to create fun and enjoyment. ABD explained, “It reflects TUIDE’s ambition to present a new trend in the global market through sounds that transcend generations, cultures, and language barriers.”
Prior to their official launch, TUIDE held a preview event titled “PLAYGROUND” on August 1 and 2 at Layer Studio 11 in Mapo-gu, Seoul. There, they pre-revealed five track performances. Despite performing without prior public information, the group showcased a high level of live vocal skills and choreography.
Amid attention on the multinational lineup, member Seo-yeon has drawn significant spotlight.
Seo-yeon is the youngest sister of Jihyo, who debuted in 2015 under JYP Entertainment as a member of TWICE and went on to become an iconic figure in global K-pop. Born in 2008, Seo-yeon has garnered widespread interest for her striking visual resemblance to her older sister.
Meanwhile, TWICE is currently in discussions with JYP Entertainment regarding their contract renewals. On July 28, Jihyo shared her thoughts with fans on the communication platform Bubble, stating, “I could chat casually about daily life with ONCEs, but continuing as if nothing is happening feels heavy on my heart.”
She added, “I thought a lot and exercised caution before reaching out. I will resolve and organize things well so ONCEs (the fandom) won’t have to wait too long, and I’ll share news as soon as possible.”
Jihyo continued, “As the master of my own life, I will deliberate carefully and make a wise choice. I genuinely love and cherish TWICE as a team. I believe ONCEs will understand my heart.”
Previously, reports emerged suggesting that Jihyo might leave JYP Entertainment after 21 years to establish an independent agency. In response, JYP stated on July 14, “TWICE is currently in their contract renewal discussion period, and we are engaged in cautious negotiations.”
Jihyo joined JYP Entertainment as a trainee in 2005 and debuted with TWICE in 2015. All nine members of TWICE renewed their contracts with JYP in 2022 and have since maintained active group promotions.
